Danielle Smith shared a link to an anti-Semitic blog while writing about the potential of the global currency
On at least one occasion in the past year, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has included in a newsletter a link to a blog that a Canadian Jewish human rights organization says is a known source of anti-Semitic tropes and racist conspiracy theories.
His sharing of blog content was first reported by freelance journalist Justin Ling, who also cited a second example. CBC News did not view this second bulletin.
In a statement on Wednesday, a spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office said Smith condemned all expressions of anti-Semitism, adding that “this hatred has no place in society.”
In his newsletter, Smith had written about the possibility of a digital currency being used by central banks. She used a link from the blog while discussing SWIFT, the Belgium-based cooperative used by financial institutions around the world.
“Will it be good for us, tied as we are to Americans?” Smith wrote at the time.
“I’m not sure yet, that’s why I’m following this closely. This article from the [blog site] believes that the change signals the end of Western domination and that we will find ourselves isolated from the rest of the world.”
CBC News does not name the blog so as not to further raise its profile.
The blog, which claims to publish “analytical works on matters of history, economics and socio-political issues”, frequently publishes anti-Semitic content, such as the one published last Sunday.
“I define Rothschild Zionism in its present incarnation, as the merger of Wall Street (global Jewish banking mafia families) and the Israel Lobby, together with their affiliated organizations, agencies, think tanks, spy rings, corporations and agents “, the post reads.
Most of the long blogs on the website are not attributed to an author, while other blogs appear to be reposted.
A request for comment was returned from an anonymous person associated with the blog who asked CBC News to dispute the claims on its website. Labeling the blog as anti-Semitic was an attempt to shut down an “open discussion”, the individual said.
Michael Mostyn, CEO of Jewish-Canadian human rights organization B’nai Brith Canada, said the blog was a known purveyor of anti-Semitic tropes and “savage conspiracy theories” to those who monitor it.
“This is not content that should have been shared, certainly by someone who was also looking for a higher position. But now that she is Premier, I think she owes it to Albertans to distance herself from this blog,” he said.
“She may not have been aware of all the stuff, but if she does get familiar with it, I think anyone would say it’s something to get away from…it’s not a blog that people in Alberta, or anywhere else in Canada or the world, should be directed to.”
Timothy Caulfield, Canada Research Chair in Health Law and Policy at the University of Alberta, which focuses on debunking pseudoscience and unproven health advice, said he had noticed a trend in Smith’s posts — one that embraces fringe voices drawn to a conspiratorial worldview.
“Like someone [at the university] who is deep into this space, the world of anti-vaxxers… she basically embraces the stars of this movement,” Caulfield said, noting the many times she also highlighted the work of well-known fringe voices.
“Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Peter McCullough, these are well-known anti-vaxxers spreading harmful misinformation.”
Caulfield said he was familiar with the blog Smith linked to, describing it as one that embraces a philosophy that warns of the imminent advent of a nefarious global agenda. Such conspiracies often warn of a so-called Great Reset.
Past social media habits
Smith’s past social media habits have come under increasing scrutiny since she was sworn in as prime minister on October 11.
In recent weeks, Smith had come under fire for her comments about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, previously saying the only answer for Ukraine was neutrality during a live chat held on April 29. Smith had said she understood why Russia would have a concern with a Western-aligned Ukraine with nuclear weapons, despite Ukraine not having had nuclear weapons since the 1990s.
Although she apologized for the comments, saying her views on the matter had “evolved significantly,” Smith expressed a desire to put those questions in the rearview mirror.
In her leadership speech, Smith said she expected those “in Ottawa and in the establishment” who didn’t want her to succeed would “dig up old pronouncements and mistakes from the past” to harm her. the PCU.
In an interview on Ryan Jespersen Real talk podcast last week, Smith was asked if she should be more aware of the ideas she harbors now that she’s in the prime minister’s chair.
“I intend to make sure that I listen widely and hear from all the experts. That’s what I tried to do on my show,” Smith said.
“And if there’s anything that emerges as some sort of consensus, if it involves science, I’ll ask questions, I certainly will. … There are too many areas that are no longer open for discussion.”
